June of 2008 saw floods of epic proportion in central Indiana.
Roads and homes flooded that have not flooded in our lifetime. This
earthcache will take you to a spot in the flood plain of the west
fork of the White River. This is a very susceptible spot for
flooding and in most years the farm fields will display some amount
of flood damage. The floods of 2008 destroyed significant amounts
of corn growing in these fields. In fact, farmers re-plowed some
large sections of the water-damaged fields and planted soy beans
where corn had been a month earlier.
The cache description will provide definitions for many terms used
to measure and describe the flow of water and floods. Below is a
map of the White River flood plain near Centerton Indiana.
The following three graphs were captured from the US Geological
Survey web site using data captured at the Centerton Indiana gaging
station. Flow rate showing peak in June 2008 floods:
Flow rate is measured as discharge. This measures the amount of
water passing by the gaging station in a given period of time.
There was obviously a significant jump during the June floods.
Graph showing gage height during June 2008 floods:
It appears flood stage at the Centerton gaging station is around
12 feet. On June 8, 2008, the gage height almost reached 20
feet.
Graph showing water temperatures during 2008 floods:
The west fork of the White River passes through many urban areas.
Therefore, run off from these paved urban areas will cause a rise
in water temperature.
The word hydrology refers to the study of the movement,
distribution, and quality of water. The United States Geological
Society maintains hundreds or even thousands of gaging stations
which monitor the movement of water in our rivers and streams. Much
of this data is readily available to the public. Graphs are
available to display flow rate, gage height and water
temperature.
The following terms may or may not be familiar to you.
Definitions have been provided by the USGS web site.
Flood--An overflow of water onto lands that are used or
usable by man and not normally covered by water. Floods have two
essential characteristics: The inundation of land is temporary; and
the land is adjacent to and inundated by overflow from a river,
stream, lake, or ocean.
Flood, 100-year--A 100-year flood does not refer to a flood
that occurs once every 100 years, but to a flood level with a 1
percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given
year.
flood plain--a strip of relatively flat and normally dry
land alongside a stream, river, or lake that is covered by water
during a flood.
flood stage--The elevation at which overflow of the natural
banks of a stream or body of water begins in the reach or area in
which the elevation is measured.
discharge--the volume of water that passes a given location
within a given period of time. Usually expressed in cubic feet per
second.
Gaging station--a site on a stream, lake, reservoir or other
body of water where observations and hydrologic data are obtained.
The U.S. Geological Survey measures stream discharge at gaging
stations.
Gage height--the height of the water surface above the gage
datum (zero point). Gage height is often used interchangeably with
the more general term, stage, although gage height is more
appropriate when used with a gage reading.
The coordinates above take you to a bridge over White River on
Blue Bluff Road south of Centerton. You can do this cache without
exiting your car. The bluffs south of the river assure the water
flows north when it hits flood stage. Flooding here is so common
that gates have been installed north of the bridge to assist with
closing the road. A pole is also on the northeast side of the
bridge to show how high the water is above flood stage. The floods
of 2008 put a serious lean in this pole and almost knocked it
over.
To log this cache you need to email two pieces of information to
the cache owner. 1. Using the odomoter on your car measure the
width of the river at maximum flood stage. Starting at the north
end of the bridge measure the distance to a spot a tenth of a mile
north of the Milhon Lane turnoff. A measurement in tenths of a mile
is fine. 2. On the southeast corner of the bridge is a dedication
plaque. Give me the name of the person this bridge is dedicated to.
You may have to slow down a bit, but you can see this plaque from
your car or bike as you approach the bridge. It may be slightly
tougher in the summer due to plant growth. Email me these two bits
of information.
This area has an interesting history. A historical sign is located
close to where Blue Bluff Road intersects Centerton Road to the
north, but it is difficult to read.
To summarize, this bridge is located at the site of the old Scott's
ferry. There also used to be a horsetrack in these fields. Finally,
a resort existed on the south shore of the river, east of the
bridge. Evidence of the cabins from this resort were visible well
into the 60's.